‘Critical’ climate change transition must be considered in North Sea – Swinney

Jackup rigs, used in the North Sea oil and gas industry, are silhouetted against the sky at sunset over the Port of Dundee in the Firth of Tay, DundeeJohn Swinney has said the “critical transition” on climate change must be considered in the question of further drilling in the North Sea. The Scottish First Minister was pressed on his thoughts on the approval of new projects in the seas around Scotland. It comes after The Times reported that industry sources believe Andy Burnham’s Government is ready to “move quickly” to scale up oil and gas production. Oil rigs anchored in the Cromarty Firth, Invergordon (Jane Barlow/PA)Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Swinney was asked what should happen in the North Sea. Following Ms Fahnbulleh’s visit to Aberdeen, the chief executive of Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) said there had been “constructive” talks.